Shock loader and unloader.



J. B. SCHUMAN. SHOCK LOADER AND UNLOADER. APPLICATION IILBD JULY a, 1909.

Patented June 11, 1912.

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J. B. SCHUMAN.

SHOCK LOADER AND UNLOADBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1909,

Patented June 11, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH CILJA'ASNINGTOI IL LI J. B. SCHUMAN.

SHOCK LOADER AND UNLOADER.

`APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1909.

1,029,322. Patented June 11, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a6 il im m M' FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. SCHUMAN, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCHUMAN COM- PANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. SCHUMAN, a Ycitizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock Loaders and Unloaders, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in that class of shock loaders and un loaders (hereinafter referred to as shock loaders) illustrated and described, in m application Serial No. 367,233, filed April 9, 1907, which are designed to bodily lift whole shocks of corn, transport the same from the field, and deposit them in upstanding position at any desired place.

Said invention consists in the general improvement of such an apparatus,and cX- tends to numerous of its particulars, whereby the same is simplified in construction and operation and rendered highly efficient, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. y

The accompanying my said invent-ion.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved shock loader showing the shock lifters in normal position; Fig. 2 a plan of the frame of the loader' and associated parts as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows on the dotted line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a rear elevation showing the two rear shock lifters and operating mechanism therefor; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the operating mechanism for said shock lifters; Fig. 5, a fragmentary rear elevation thereof; and Figs. 6 to 15 inclusive, are detail views of various parts of the loader, which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

As indicated in the drawings, my invention comprises a suitable running gear and framework, the sills, 5, 6, of the latter preferably diverging from the front to the rear end of the vehicle (Fig. 2), and to which sills are attached cross members, 7, for supporting the standards, 8, which are fiXedly secured thereto by brackets, 9, such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A beam, 10, is secured to the upper ends of said standards 8, which beam and cross members 7 are suitably braced by stay-rods, 11, (Fig. 3), or in any suitable manner. Said loader (Fig. 1) is drawings illustrate Specification of Letters Patent. Application led July 3, 1909.

Patented June 11, 1912. Serial No. 505,879.

designed to handle siX shocks, three on each side, a shock lifter being mounted between each pair of the standards 8. One of t-he brackets 9 is secured to the lower end of each standard 8 and to a cross-member 7, and is provided with eyes, 12, which constitute bearings for the lower bail, 15. Mounted upon the beam 1() above each standard is a bracket, 20, to which the upper ends of rods 11 may be bolted, and which bracket is also provided with eyes, forming bearings for the upper bails, 21, said lower and upper bails being substantially A- shaped and adapted to be simultaneously swung outwardly, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In my present arrangement the shock lifter is provided with an improved shock post, 25, which I either curve at its lower end, or provide with a runner or foot-piece, 26, to form a skid (Fig. 14), which permits the post to slide and prevents it from breaking should the loader be moved while one or more of the lifters is in lowermost or ground position. At the upper end of said post on its inner side I provide a clip, 28, which preferably overlaps said post and engages hook, 29, and which clip serves as a bearing for the upper bail 21; while on the lower portion of said post I provide a bracket, 30, which serves as a bearing for the lower bail 15, and also supports a sheave, 31.

To beam 10, preferably midway between each pair of standards, I provide abracket, 35, terminating in hooks, 36, as shown, or otherwise provided with hangers, which hanger structure may be secured to said beam by bolt, 37, or otherwise, and above the same I provide a block, 38, which serves as a buffer for the shock lifter.

Shock-post 25 is provided with a shockholder or receptacle, 40, of any suitable form to receive and retain a shock, but pref erably concave in form substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, and which may be constructed of 4sheet metal suit-ably reinforced by angle-irons, 41, or otherwise. The lower and upper bails 15 and 21 are pivotally attached to the shock-post, as shown in Fig. 10, and their divergent ends are pivotally secured to the medianly mounted upright frame, preferably by the brackets 9 and 20, respectively, which bails support said shock lifter (comprising the post, etc.) in vertically moving position.

At the rear of the shock loader, as indicated in Figs. 2 to 5, I provide winding mechanism, consisting of a series of drums,I 50, each of which has a gear, 51, and each drum is provided with a cable, 52, which is attached toa shock lifter, and, for purposes of illustration, as all of said shock lifters, winding drums and attachments, are similar, I will now describe the connection between said winding mechanism and a shock lifter, preferably a rear shock lifter, as shown most plainly in Fig. 3. Cable 52 (see Fig. 2) runs from a winding drum 50 to and around a swiveled sheave, 55, (Figs. 1 and 2), secured in a holder, 56, adjustably mounted in a socket, 57, (Fig. 13), secured to a sill of the frame by a bolt or otherwise. Said cable 52 passes upwardly from said sheave 55 and over sheave, 58, (Figs. 3 and 6) which is supported in a frame suspended from a hook 36, and then passes outwardly and around under sheave 31 secured to shockpost, 25 by bracket 30 so as to be drawn through a slot, 60, in said post, and thence upwardly along the outer side of said post to a further swiveled sheave, 61, supported in a frame, 62, suspended from hook 29, and passes around over said sheave, its end being provided with a grappling device comprising an open faced sheave, 63, mounted in a holder, 64, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12.

Each of the winding drums 50 is controlled by a lever, 65, which at its lower end is adapted to engage gear 51 of said drum. Above this series of drums I mount a shaft, 66, upon which is slidably secured a pinion, 67. I also provide a brake, 68, for each of said gears, 51, one end of which brake I secure, at 69, to the rear cross member 7, and extend the same down around said gear and up at the rear side thereof where it terminates in or has secured thereto a link,

70, designed'to engage a shoulder, 71, on lever 65. At one end of shaft 66 I provide a crank-handle, 75, for the manual operation thereof, while at the opposite end of said shaft is mounted a power drum, 76, provided with a cable, 77, by which an animal may be employed to rotate said shaft, 66, said drum, as indicated in Fig. 1, being provided with eyes, 78, in its o-uter rim, in which the end of cable 77 may be secured thereto by a hook attached to its end, or otherwise. As shown, the shock lifters are in normal position, and, when it is desired to lower the same to receive a shock, the lever 65 is disengaged from gear 51, which permits the shock lifter to descend by gravity, at the same time unwinding cable 52; and to control its descent at a desired speed, or to retard its downward movement, I utilize brake 68, by engaging link with shoulder 71 on lever 65, and apply pressure to the latter, which causes brake 68 to tightly grip about the periphery of gear 51, thus retarding its rotation and controlling the descent of the shock lifter. In the accomplishment of this operation it will be understood that pinion 67 has been disengaged from gear 51, by shifting same along shaft 66; and that by pulling upon the outer end of cable 52 the same may be drawn to a suicient distance to encircle a shock, which the operator accomplishes by loo-ping said cable about the shock, and then hooking sheave 63, through the opening 64 in its holder, about said cable. When about to encircle a shock cable 52 is pulled out rather forcibly, causing the drum 50 to rotate rapidly, and to prevent the wound portion of cable 52 from unwrapping and crowding over the drum I place the series of drums close to rear cross member 7, so that said cable cannot work over the rim of said drum. After encircling a shock, it is elevated in the following manner. Pinion 67 is moved along shaft 66 to engage the appropriate gear 51; and, if manual power is employed to perform the elevating operation, the operator rotates shaft 66 by means of crank 75, which in turn rotates drum 50 and winds cable 52 thereabout, which gradual shortening of said cable draws the shock toward and tightly against the shock lifter, and lifts the same with its shock, from the ground and up to its position to be transported, in which position the load of shocks is centralized upon the vehicle and the weight thereof equally distributed. If animal power is employed, the animal is hitched to cable 77, held by drum 76, and upon pulling away from the apparatus, accomplishes the same result of rotating shaft 66 to actuate gear 51 forming part of drum 50. When depositing a shock, as will be understood, link 70 is thrown into engagement with lug 71 on lever 65, and by pressure, said lever is disengaged from said gear, which leaves its drum 50 free to rotate, when the shock lifter and its shock by gravity will descend, unwinding cable 52, and depositing the shock in standing position, the operator controlling the speed of the descent by the frictional contact of brake 68 upon a portion of the periphery of gear 51 by pressure applied to lever 65 as hereinbefore indicated. After a shock is unloaded there is a considerable portion of cable 52 unwound, which must be rewound as the shock lifter is elevated, which is accomplished by registering pinion 67 with the appropriate gear 51, and reversing the movement of crank 75, which rotates drum 50 in the opposite direction and causes itto rewind said cable to return said shock lifter to elevated position. As is obvious, this operation also reverses the rotary motion of drum 76, and to prevent cable 7T thereon from unwrapping I provide the holes 78 in said drum, in which the end of said cable 77 may be hooked or otherwise secured.

As an apparatus of this character receives rough usage by travel over uneven surfaces and otherwise, it is necessary to insure that the series of levers 65 be held securely in position, and for this purpose I employ the swinging bail 80, which, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4i, is held out of contact with said levers by a hook Sl or other device when out of commission, and is capable of being released therefrom and swung down Yardly across the underside of said levers, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and which bail, for ready and automatic manipulation, I prefer to have spring mounted by springs SQ, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5.

then lever G5 is released, which is necessary to lower a shock, the hails l5 and 21, being in substantially perpendicular position, the shock lifter may notI instantly begin its descent with the shock, as the latter because of its great weight has a tendency to slightly descend without immediately lowering the lifter. In order, therefore, to insure that the lifter and shock will positively simultaneously descend I provide an automatically acting spear, 85, (that shown being double pointed) pivotally mounted in` a bracket, 85', upon said shock-post 25, the arm. 8G. whereof is connected to the lower bail 15 by a cable, 87. IVhen the shock-post is in lowermost position said spear projects outwardly therefrom and enters the shock when the latter is drawn to the post, and, as the shock-pest ascends in elevating the shock` a pull exerted gradually upon d spear through its arm 8G and cable 87, causing said spear to project upwardly, thus asA suming a .supporting position for the shock and preventing it from slipping; and when said lifter is caused to descend the distance between arm 86 and lower bail 15 is decreased. and spear 85 thus automatically caused to assume its original position as the shock-post is lowered beyond the side of the vehicle, and withdrawn from the shock as the same is deposited. Then said shock lifter with its shock is lifted to its highest position, to prevent the same from colliding directly wit-h beam l0, I have provided the buffer 2S hereinbefore referred to, and as shown in Fig. G, which projects outwardly on either side a considerable distance beyond beam 10, and against which the sheave 31 or other portion of said lifter may strike and rest.

In operating an apparatus of this character it is necessary to frequently turn it within a very small space, and by converging` the sills toward the front thereof in the manner indicated the front wheels may be turned at almost right angles to the direction of the vehicle frame, thereby obviating the necessity of employing an arched or elevated frame to avoid contact of said wheels with the frame. It will also be understood that the shock to be loaded is outside the plane of the vehicle, and is of considerable weight, the operation of drawing it toward the lifter and elevating it tending to overturn the vehicle. and as it is essential that the framework in which the lifting means is mounted be elevated, this tendency to overturn is increased. In order to prevent this I have so arranged the cables as to pass from the shock over this framework, and thence downward to near the contactual engagement of the vehicle with the ground, so that in the operation of drawing a shock to a lifter and elevating the same the downward pull exerted on the cable will counteract the lateral pull from the shock.

While I have in the main described but single elements forming part of my improved shock loader, it will be readily understood that any suitable number of shock lifters with appropriate winding mechanism may be employed, and that said lifters are arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle each to elevate a complete corn shock toward the upright frame and thus centralize the load for transportation, and to lower the shocks in standing position at destination.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a shock loader, a framework comprising cross-members and standards, means for securing said men'lbers and standards together and constituting a bail bearing, bails mounted in said securing means, shock lifters mounted on said bails, and means for operating said lifters.

2. In a shock loader, the combination of a supporting frame, a shock-post pivotally secured thereto and having a curved lower end, and means for elevating and lowering said post.

3. In a shock loader, the combination of a supporting frame, a sl'iock-post pivotally secured thereto and provided with means at its lower end to permit skidding thereof, and means for elevating and lowering said post.

4. In a shock loader, the combination of a support, a shock-post pivotally secured thereto and provided with means to permit the skidding thereof, and a shock-holder mounted on said post.

In a shock loader, the combination of a supporting frame, a shock-lifter pivotally secured thereto comprising a post having a curved lower end and a shock-holder associated therewith. and means for elevating and lowering said shock-lifter.

G. A shock loader comprising a framework, a shock lifter mounted thereon, means for binding and lifting a shock, means for lowering the shock, and means for preventing the shock from descending in advance of the lifter.

7. The combination, with a shock loader, of a shock-lifter. means supported by said lifter for binding and lifting a shock, and means for causing said lifter to descend simultaneously with its shock.

8. The combination, with a shock loader, of a shock-lifter pivotally mounted thereon, means supported by said lifter for binding and lifting a shock, and a pivotally mounted shock-supporting spear mounted on said lifter.

9. shock loader comprising a framework, an upright support medianly mounted thereon, a bail mounted at the lower end of said support, a bail mounted near the upper side of said support, a shock lifter mounted on the outer ends of said bails, a cable passing from said support to said lifter, and means for preventing a shock from descending in advance of said lifter.

1t). A shock loader Comprising a frame, an upright support inedianly mounted thereon. bails pivotally mounted near the lower and upper ends of said support, a shock lifter pivotally mounted on the outer ends of said bails, a cable passing from said support to said lifter. and a spear for supporting a shock against said lifter.

ll. ln a shock loader, a framework, adjustably mounted sheaves supported by said framework. cables running over said sheaves. shock lifters secured to the ends of said cables. means for winding said cables to raise and lower said lifters, a plurality of levers for releasing said able-winding means. and means actuated by said levers for controlling the rotation of said cablewinding means.

l2. ln a shock loader` a framework. shock lifters pivotally mounted on said framework. winding mechanism. cables supported by said framework and connnunicating with said litters. a plurality of levers for releasing said mechanism to unwind said cables. and frietional m xaus for Controlling the rotation of said windingl mechanism.

13. Vln a shoek loader. a framework. shock lifters pivotally mounted on said framework. winding 'aiechanisnn cables supported by said framework and commuuicating with said lifters, a plurality of levers for releasing said meehanisin to unwind said ables, and brakes controlled by said levers for arresting the rotation of said winding mechanism.

ll. ln a shock loader. cable-winding means comprising a series of drums. a gear for each drinn. a shifting oinion for engaging said gears. brakes extending around the peripheries of said gears. means adjacent each of said gears for engaging the same` and means for connecting said brakes and engaging means to control the rotation of said gears.

15. In a shook-loader, a shock lifter comprising a post, a shock-holder mounted on said post, cable guides mounted on said post, a cable passing along said post and over said guides, shock-encircling means at the end of said cable, and means for temporarily positively preventing the downward movement of a shock.

1G. ln a shock loader, a shock lifter comprising a post having a runner at its lower end, a substantially concave shock-holder on said post, cable guides on said post, a cable passing over said guides, automatically acting shoek supporting means on said post, and a shock grapple at the end of said cable.

1T, ,t shock loader comprising an upright frame, brackets embodying bearings mounted on the lower end of said frame, bearing brackets mounted on the upper end of said frame, bails mounted in said brackets. and a shock lifter pivotally mounted on the outer ends of said bails.

1H. A shock loader comprising a framework, a plurality of shock liflers pivotally mounted on said framework, adjustable sheaves mounted upon said framework, a winding drum for each lifter, a cable running from each of said drums around said sheav es and communicating with said lifters, means for operating said drums to elevate and lower said lifters. and buffers for limiting the inward movement of said lifters against said frame.

1t). ln a shock loader, a framework, a plurality of shock lifters pivotally mounted thi-weon. sheave hangers on said framework one fer each lifter, sheaves supported thereby, cables running` over said sheaves and communicating with said lifters, and means for limiting the inward movement of said lifters toward said framework.

2t). ln a shock loader, a framework, a plurality of shook litters pivotally mounted thereon, a series of winding drums one for each lifter, eables running froln said drums to the respective lifters, levers for Controlling` the rotary movement of said drums, and means for preventing the displacement of said levers during` the movement of said loader.

2l. ln a shock loader, a framework, a plurality of shock-lifters mounted upon said framework. a series of cable-bearing drums associated with said loader. means for actuating said drums for raising and lowering said litters, levers for controlling the reverse movement of said drums, and a bail for preventing the displacement of said levers.

ln a shock loader, a framework, a plurality of shock-litters mounted thereon, a series of winding drums associated with said loader, cables running from said drums to the respective lifters, means for actuatingI said drums and cables to raise and lower said lifters, and means for retaining said cables within the plane of said drums.

Q3. In a shock loader, a framework, a plurality of shock-lifters mounted thereon, a series of winding drums associated with said loader', cables running` from said drums to said lifters, means for unwindingsaid cables, a power drum for rewinding said cables, a cable on said drum, and means for securing said cable when wound to said drum.

ln a, shock loader, a framework, a plurality of means mounted on said framework comprising winding drums and lifting; cables for elevating;` shocks, a power drum and cable for rewinding.;1 said lifting` mbles, means for unwinding said cables to lower shocks, and means for preventing the power cable from unwinding when the lifting cables are rewound.

25. The combination, with a shock loader, of an elevated framework, a shock lifter pivotally mounted thereon, and a cable movably mounted in said lifter and extending from the upper end thereof downwardly and thence to the upper portion of said framework and downwardly therethrough to winding mechanism.

26. In a shock loader, a supporting frame, a shock-lifter mounted thereon, a cableguide in said lifter, a shock-encircling cable running from said frame and about said cable-guide, an open faced sheave at the end of said cable for securing the encircled portion thereof about a shock, and means for operating said cable te tighten the `saine about a shock.

27. ln a shock loader, a supporting frame, an uprighty support medianly mounted thereon, a shock-lifter pivotally secured to and adapted to swing vertically at right angles to said support said lifter con'iprising a shock-post having a substantially concave shock-holder associated therewith, a cable-guide associated with said lifter, a shock-encircling cable running from said frame and about said cable-guide, means at the end of said cable for securing the encircled portion thereof about a shock, and means for operating said cable to tighten the same about a shock.

In testimonjv whereof I attiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. SCHUMAN.

lVitnesses C. E. SLoAN, WALTER J. TINGLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

